FY 2014 Air Force Nursing

[SG219]

I have been following the thread for FY 2013 Air Force nursing and realize that many of the clinical nurses, including myself, were made alternates for FY 2014. The only information I have received from my recruiter is that I will find out sometime in April or May if I am selected or not. Has anyone received more detailed information about the upcoming boards? What is the likelihood of selection for us alternates?

I am also interested to hear from anyone currently serving as a clinical nurse in the Air Force who can describe the day-to-day life and current news regarding the nursing specialty. I am 28 years old, have been an acute care RN at a level I facility since 2008, served seven years in the Army National Guard, and am a family man with two children. My wife, also an RN, and I are excited that I am an "alternate" for FY 2014 because it seems likely I will be selected. We have anxieties about active duty because I have never served on active duty.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

JoseLove,

Being in my 20's, I don't feel at all qualified to answer that question outright. Maybe someone older could chime in here? Here are my wandering thoughts on this though...

Ask your local recruiter for the physical fitness requirements for your age group first. If you feel like those are reasonable for you, then you should delve into this further. The minimum passing score for 20-29 year olds is 33 pushups in a min, 42 situps in a min, 1.5mi in 13:36, and waist circumference

The other thing you might want to consider is your status in the military if you go 'nursing.' Even with your significant experience and degrees, you still have very little healthcare experience. It's not like they could make you nurse manager/supervisor/charge nurse right off the bat, even with the MBA. You would be in 'staffing' for years as floor nurse taking orders from 28 year olds..

Finally, you would be applying as an NTP (new grad nurse) instead of an FQ applicant (experienced nurse). There are far fewer slots for these people. You would also only have 1 shot to apply based on your age.

Don't know if that helps at all. Definitely not trying to discourage you.

[Bayern]

Is there anyone here thinking about going the Reserves route? I am trying to read as much as possible about it to have as an option if the second time we apply, we hear about reapplication again. My take now is to reapply for active duty.

[aliseel25]

I'm so frustrated with getting these recommendation letters. I got about 10 evaluations previously and had months to do it. Now I'm rushing to try and get a few of the same people to type a recommendation letter in the next couple weeks. I honestly feel terrible asking them to do this again. I'm really just hoping they're willing to do it and able to get it done in time.

On another note, I have my chief nurse interview this Thursday at Wright-Patt. Anyone else go there for the chief nurse interview?

[Bayern]

I got 3 people to write the LoR and my recruiter told me 3-5 people would be enough. He also told me that he thinks the Chief Nurse Interview I did was good for reapplication. I decided to reapply before thinking about something different. My wife is completely against the Navy, so that leave the Army as the only other option. I heard the reserves do not give any sign on bonus.

I'm so frustrated with getting these recommendation letters. I got about 10 evaluations previously and had months to do it. Now I'm rushing to try and get a few of the same people to type a recommendation letter in the next couple weeks. I honestly feel terrible asking them to do this again. I'm really just hoping they're willing to do it and able to get it done in time.

On another note, I have my chief nurse interview this Thursday at Wright-Patt. Anyone else go there for the chief nurse interview?

[aliseel25]

I got 3 people to write the LoR and my recruiter told me 3-5 people would be enough. He also told me that he thinks the Chief Nurse Interview I did was good for reapplication. I decided to reapply before thinking about something different. My wife is completely against the Navy, so that leave the Army as the only other option. I heard the reserves do not give any sign on bonus.

I've gotten 1 LOR back so far. I'm kind of in a panic for the other 2. I had fantasic evaluations from an 0-5 Air Force NP and an E-8 Air Force Medic. Now I'm just trying to get them to write an LOR. They're stationed in different areas than I currently live, so it's not always easy to get in touch with them.

I really can't see myself going into another branch if I don't get accepted into the nurse corps. I'm prior service Air Force. I was an enlisted medic for 4 years and got out 6 years ago.I feel loyalty and respect to this branch and don't really have much interest in any other branch. I have seen how family oriented the Air Force is and don't see much of that happening with the other branches.

[EllTee2B]

I've gotten 1 LOR back so far. I'm kind of in a panic for the other 2. I had fantasic evaluations from an 0-5 Air Force NP and an E-8 Air Force Medic. Now I'm just trying to get them to write an LOR. They're stationed in different areas than I currently live, so it's not always easy to get in touch with them.

I really can't see myself going into another branch if I don't get accepted into the nurse corps. I'm prior service Air Force. I was an enlisted medic for 4 years and got out 6 years ago.I feel loyalty and respect to this branch and don't really have much interest in any other branch. I have seen how family oriented the Air Force is and don't see much of that happening with the other branches.

aliseel, I'm curious to see how the selection process works out for you. I too am prior enlisted and am curious to see how heavily that is weighed in.

[aliseel25]

aliseel, I'm curious to see how the selection process works out for you. I too am prior enlisted and am curious to see how heavily that is weighed in.

EllTee2B,

I didn't understand your screen name until I typed it out! That's cute.

Yeah, I'm curious to see how this selection goes as well. I don't know how big the prior service card is. Were you in the Air Force? What was your job?

[JillyRN]

Bayer,

I too am considering going the reserve route if this next board doesn't pan out. I originally applied in October 2012. I was told they had too many applications and mine would be sent in for the February 2013 board. Then in March I was told my packet was not reviewed since they would not be taking any more clinical nurses for FY 2013. I've just completed the reapplication except for the interview for this next board. However, in the time that has passed, we've moved across the country and I was offered an amazing opportunity for an OR training program. Now I'm torn and jaded as to how this process has been. I'm not ready to give up, but I'm thinking the reserves would be my best option if I hit another wall. Granted if there is even a need for reserve nurses. Good luck with this one. I hope they do have preference for the alternates cause that's even more of a roller coaster ride than I've had!

[EllTee2B]

EllTee2B,

I didn't understand your screen name until I typed it out! That's cute.

Yeah, I'm curious to see how this selection goes as well. I don't know how big the prior service card is. Were you in the Air Force? What was your job?

Aliseel,

Thanks. I thought it was a funny little screen name to use. From what I heard the prior service card goes a very long way. I know a public health officer that said it weighed heavily when he was selected. But to answer your question, yes I was Air Force. I worked a completely different field though, as a aircraft mechanic. I'm still quite a way away from applying. Unfortunately, I don't graduate until December 2014. Maybe things will be a little different by that time.

[aliseel25]

Chief nurse interview went well yesterday. The total interview time was about 1 hour.

Here's some background about me. Most of my questions were based off this.

I'm applying for FQ clinical nurse. I'm 29 years old and have 4 years med surg experience. I have served 4 years active duty Air Force as an enlisted medic and have been separated from the Air Force for 6 years.

I met with a full bird colonel, which was intimidating at first. Being prior enlisted, you're conditioned to feel intimidated by the superior officers, and I guess that feeling never went away! You just have to remember, she is a nurse, too, so she has been in your shoes.

We started off with telling a little background about each other. Once I told her I was a prior enlisted Air Force medic, she breezed through most of the military questions.

She did ask me the mission of the Air Force and how I felt the nurse corps fell into that overall mission. She asked why I wanted to be a nurse. She had me take her through a typical day on my job as a nurse. She asked me to describe a situation where I used critical thinking and an ethical situation I was involved in.

She asked about my fitness regimen, what it would feel like to wear the uniform (as an officer this time), how I feel about deployments and carrying a gun, and was my family supportive. Then we discussed bases, short/long term goals, and career progression.

I'm wanting a base with a large hospital, so we went over some of those. Wright-Patterson AFB(which is where I was interviewing and also spent 2 months training at this hospital while previously enlisted), Travis AFB, Nellis AFB, and SAMMC. We discussed switching specialties. I'm interesting in OB. She said once you're on station for 1 year, you can apply for critical care, OB, ER, etc., and if you're selected, they send you for training for that position. We also briefly discussed the scholarship programs for nurse anesthetist and NP. As an officer, you are expected to continue your education. It's all mapped out on the career path and you have to continue education in order to make rank.

This interview was better than some civilian interviews I've had. Like the ones where they ask you all those questions "tell me about a time when..."

My recruiter gave me a 4-5 page preparation sheet for the interview. It is the exact paperwork the chief nurse receives to conduct the interview. While every chief nurse may not go right off this paper, mine went right off the sheet and was filling it out as she went along. If you need this paperwork, let me know and I will e-mail it to you.

The chief nurse interviews can be over the phone or in-person. If it's in-person, it's at your expense. I opted for in-person because it's more personal. I opted to absorb the cost because I wanted the best interview possible and Wright-Patterson AFB is 4 1/2 hours away from me. In the end though, my recruiter ended up taking me because he needed to get some items on base anyways. I feel like someone can be quick to judge on the phone. Plus, if they can see you, they get a better feel of your body language and posture and can see how passionate you are about this position and your passion for nursing in general. We also found time to laugh and share some things we have in common in nursing. That never would have happened over the phone.

I took some advice from Carolinapooh who has quite a few fantastic post on here with a wealth of information.

I wore a suit. I chose not to wear a skirt just because that's my preference. I wore plain jane, black pumps. Light make-up. I pulled my hair back into a bun, which would have been within military regulations. And I wore stud earrings (You can't wear hoops or dangling earring in military uniform.) While my recruiter said he wasn't sure this was all necessary, I wanted the chief nurse to feel like she could envision me working on one of the units. Maybe that's overkill, but I'm trying to increase my chances of being selected as much as possible. The chief nurse is the "eyes and ears of the Air Force", the board will never see you. So, what the chief nurse thinks of you is very important.

[Candi2188]

Hey everyone I just wanted to join the conversation becauseI am applying for the Oct 2014 board. Iam a pediatric nurse practitioner with one year of experience applying for 1 ofthe 2 PNP positions. I have completed mypackage and next week I am going to MEPS (Tuesday), having a phone interviewwith a PNP (Tuesday), and going to have my chief nurse interview at Moody AFB(Friday). I am prior enlisted AF but Iwas in CE. I have been reading any and everything I canfind about the application process and COT.

Are there any other NPs out there applying this round? Orany active duty PNPs that would like to share their experience?

Has anyone interviewed at Moody that could offer anypointers?

[midinphx, BSN]

Aliseel - you would have made a great impression on me! I bet you did great. Congrats. Now start holding your breath - waiting for an answer is the hardest part.

I don't think that prior service really matter when I came in. I was prior service, but I don't think that really counted on paper. I think it does play well in the interview because you can highlight how you do understand military life and have made a commitment to following that again. I thought I would be one of few nurses who had prior service - but there are so many of us! We all have such interesting stories as to what drove us into nursing and what brought us to the military.